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Huntsville Man Indicted for Fraud, Wearing ACU and Unearned Awards

Christopher Bernard Graham, 43, of Huntsville Alabama, is one of the first to be indicted since the supreme court’s ruling on the Stolen Valor act, for wearing unearned medals. An indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Christopher Bernard Graham, also known as Christopher Harold Graham and Christopher Graham Lyndsey, with one count of fraud in relation to identification documents, two counts of unauthorized wearing of the U.S. Army Combat Uniform and eight counts of unauthorized wearing of U.S. military badges, decorations or medals.

This is form the United States Attorney’s Office Website of Northern Alabama:

“Graham is charged with fraud for possessing an identification card on Aug. 14 that was illegally produced to appear as though it were issued under the authority of the United States, according to the indictment.

He wore the U.S. Army Combat Uniform, without authorization, between Oct. 1, 2010, and April 20, 2011, and also between Nov. 1, 2011, and April 1, 2012, according to the indictment. During the same two time periods, Graham also wore, without authorization, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Army Ranger Tab, the Army Parachute Qualification Badge and the Army Air Assault Qualification Badge, according to the charges.

The fraud charge is a felony carrying a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The unauthorized wearing of a U.S. military uniform or of military badges, decorations and medals are misdemeanors carrying maximum penalties of six months in prison and $5,000 fines.

The FBI and U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David H. Estes is prosecuting the case.”

I am still getting information on this case, but it seems he can be charged under several US Codes for unauthorized wear of the uniform and the badges and tabs. USC code 10 771-772(See Code Here)makes it illegal for anyone other than a person of the armed forces to wear the uniform, or its accessories. There are a few exceptions to this law, for Hollywood actors, re-enactments etc.

We will update this story as the information comes to us! So for all you posers out their, remember, the Stolen Valor act only covered verbally and in writing claiming an award. It is still against the law to pretend to be a Soldier, or to wear the un-earned badges and tabs.

Thanks to our friends over at Fake Warriors for bringing this to our attention.

UPDATE:

We have recieved a copy of the indicment against the individual. Some of the charges may not hold, but they have charged him under several different codes for wearing the uniform and impersonating a Military member.

I believe that it falls under the same guidelines as wearing a police officer’s uniform. Saying you are a Ranger or have a Purple Heart is, to me, different than wearing it on your chest, in a complete uniform.

At least in Alabama its not against the law to just wear the uniform or for instance have blue lights on top of your car you have to actually perform an official act as an officer. Depending on the Judge/Jury I dont think just wearing the uniform would be enough however I think the prosecutor could argue that the official act was “patrolling”. The law may have changed but this is how it was when I was a cop back in the early 90’s.